Cops: She Just Wanted to Touch the Statue's Privates
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- A 28-year-old tourist caused "minor but significant" damage to Florence's 16th-century Neptune fountain by climbing it during a pre-wedding dare to touch the statue's genitals, damaging the horses' legs and a frieze.
- The estimated repair cost is around $5,800, and the woman faces charges of defacing an artistic and architectural asset, with potential fines up to approximately $47,000.
- The Neptune fountain, created by Bartolomeo Ammannati in 1559, has become a frequent target for tourists' social media stunts despite increased surveillance and CCTV installation.
- Florence officials criticize such behavior as disrespectful to the city's cultural heritage and warn against encouraging ignorance and superficiality toward its historic monuments.
